Gemini Observatory: Exploring The Universe, Sharing its Wonders

Navigation

Semester 14B Call for Proposals

Gemini Observatory invites its community to propose scientific investigations for the 2014B semester, 1 August 2014 - 31 January 2015.

The submission deadline varies with partner and ranges from MONDAY, MARCH 31, to TUESDAY, APRIL 1. Multi-partner joint proposals should be submitted by the deadline of the partner country to which the Principal Investigator is affiliated. Large and Long Program Proposals, and proposals for exchange time on Gemini from the Japanese community should be submitted by the Gemini Staff proposal deadline, March 31, 2014 at 23:59 HST (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time). An overview of the Gemini proposal submission process is available.

New Opportunity: Bring one, get one! In 2014B, Gemini Observatory will subsidize, with up to US$2000, the travel expenses of individual under- and graduate students visiting Gemini North or South, when accompanying a senior observer.

DSSI Speckle camera: a dual-channel visual-wavelength camera giving simultaneous diffraction limited images in two filters over a 2.8 - 5.6 arcsecond field of view. Up to 100 hours, subject to demand, are available during July 17-27, limiting RAs to 15h to 1h.

TEXES: a high resolution (R ~4,000-100,000) mid-infrared (5-25 micron) spectrometer. Up to 100 hours, subject to demand, are available during August 7-17, limiting RAs to 15h to 5h (targets near the RA limits are available only for short periods).

Large and Long Programs

Large and long Programs (LPs) are Principal Investigator-defined and -driven programs that are expected to require either significantly more time than a partner typically approves for a single program, or extends over two to six semesters, or both. The participating partners (US, Canada, Australia, and Argentina) will make up to 20% of their time at each telescope available for LPs over each of the next 6* semesters from the start of LP execution in 2014B. Principal Investigators of LPs must be based at an institution of one of the participating partner countries. Investigators submitting Proposals for LPs, to begin execution in 2014B, must have already submitted a letter of intent prior to the February 3rd, 2014, deadline. Further information on LPs and the LP proposal process can be found on the Large And Long Program page.

* - Australia agrees to participate in the LP process through 2015, and Australian PIs are eligible for programs that will conclude by the end of 2015.

Phase I Tool for 2014B

Proposals for time on Gemini, and for time on Subaru via the Gemini-Subaru exchange program, must use the Gemini Phase I Tool (PIT). Latex and Word templates are available to create a pdf attachment which includes the science and technical cases. The requested time for the visitor instruments should include all required calibrations (unlike the facility instruments where the time required for a specified set of baseline calibrations should not be included). Investigators are strongly encouraged to include the output from the integration time calculators in the proposal. See the PIT page for installation information and the help pages for the PIT for assistance.

Time Available in 2014B

The time available for each partner and host institution in 2014B is shown on the time distribution page. The science time available at each telescope includes a 7% Director's Discretionary Time allocation. Currently, the Director makes 5% available for staff use via the Call for Proposals, while 2% will be available to all astronomers through the Director's Discretionary Time proposal process. At Gemini North, 163 nights are expected to be available for science. At Gemini South, 153 nights are expected to be available for science.

Exchange Time

A minimum of 5 classical nights are available on Subaru in Semester 2014B.

Proposals should be submitted via the normal Gemini Phase I process. PIs in the Gemini community who intend to use the Subaru telescope are encouraged to apply through the time-exchange program and not through the open use Subaru Call. Subaru Observatory staff request that any PIs with direct access to Gemini not request time on Gemini via the Subaru exchange program.

Time must be requested in integer nights, and runs will be evenly distributed across dark, gray and bright nights.

Observing proposals using the visiting instruments must include the relevant instrument PI as a Co-investigator.

No Gemini-Keck exchange time is offered in Semester 2014B.

Bring One, Get One: Student Travel Assistance Program

The Gemini Observatory, at the request of its Users' Committee, would like to strongly encourage the visit of students to observing runs (attending Queue, Classical, or Priority Visiting Observing). In semester 2014B, the Gemini Observatory will subsidize with up to US$2000 the travel expenses of individual under- and graduate students visiting Gemini North or South, when accompanying a senior observer. Please contact the Director or Deputy Director if you would like to make use of this opportunity.

Remote Eavesdropping

Remote Eavesdropping will be available in 2014B for all Band 1 and 2 programs, except for GSAOI programs. Investigators will be invited to eavesdropping via the PI email announcing they have been granted time.

Questions and Answers

All questions concerning proposals, or any other subject, should be made using the Gemini HelpDesk. This web-based system will send the request to your National Gemini Office staff in the first instance who will then escalate it to Gemini staff if necessary.

Comments and suggestions on the format and content of this page and supporting pages are welcome, and should be sent to Steve Margheim.